L,
RAINBOW NEWS
CFN: 15925
MARCH 2015
This Newsletter comes to you from the Hand Over Hand Club. The club is a
self-determining group of people with both hearing and vision loss. It is an important
part of the DeafBlind Association of NSW and is assisted by Vision Australia formerly
Royal Blind Society of NSW. The club provides interesting outings, information and
social interaction for its members. The newsletter is produced in Braille, Large Print,
Regular size print, as a word doc, on CD and can be sent by e-mail.
Put yourself on the mailing list by ringing Janne Bidenko 029456 2372 /0432 570 210
Voice OR send a fax to DBA FAX: 02 9744 0171 Fax anytime OR e-mail to
dbansw@bigpond.com.
Our website address is: http://www.dbansw.org.au
We meet on the last Saturday of each month except December.
We welcome all articles from members.
Articles, inquiries, comments and general correspondence may be sent to:
The Deafblind Association (NSW)
P.O. Box 1295
Strathfield NSW 2135
This month’s articles:
- FEBRUARY OUTING TO COLLAROY DISABLED SURFING –
28/2/15
- DSA COLLAROY – Jannetta Simpson
- JANNE’S CORNER
- BIRTHDAYS
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- MEDIA RELEASE: STRONG ADVOCACY KEY TO BREAKING
DOWN BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY – NCOSS 17
February 2015
- AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE – Irene McMinn & Mark Hoarau
- LETS CONNECT MEETING 20TH FEBRUARY 2015 – Irene
McMinn
- DEAFBLIND CAMP AT PHILIP ISLAND - by Mark Hoarau.
- HOH OUTING FOR MARCH – 28th March 2015
FEBRUARY OUTING TO COLLAROY DISABLED SURFING – 28/2/15
As always, the outing to Collaroy DSA was a great success. It dawned a lovely sunny
day after a week of mostly rainy days, but was not too hot to enjoy the day.
We started with the board riding in the pool, where Brett McCreath got to have his
photo taken standing up on the board, he also participated in the board races in the
pool. Unfortunately the second bus did not get there in time for this, as they were
delayed trying to arouse Felicity, we all felt bad that she missed the day as we know
how much she enjoys it.
Those who did attend were Mark Hoarau, David Dawson, Joe Habib, Hannen
Abdullah, Gaie Barrett, Leanne Brims, Brett McCreath, Dean Hanlon, Ian Perabo,
Irene McMinn, Wayne Bushell, and a new member from Forsight, Ken Hunt and of
course Jannetta Simpson, who was one of the crew working on it, and we also had a
new volunteer Tony Zhou, as well as our faithfuls Mick, Kamal, Andy and Janne. Tony
and Selma also joined us, and even later Leonie and Kwame.
However, all participants enjoyed the boards in the surf and Jannetta took some great
photos. It was wonderful having her involved with DSA, as she has many awards for
her swimming etc and volunteered to help them this year, and loved assisting other
Deafblind people. There are a couple of Ian with the broadest smiles, he enjoys this
day so much that the Surf Life Savers always give him extra turns. Brett and Joe
participated in the tug-of-war on the beach and enjoyed that as well. Jannetta was the
only person this year to win an award and this was for “DSA Best Helper”, which she
certainly deserved.
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DSA COLLAROY – Jannetta Simpson
DSA Collaroy Beach has ended for another year! (crying) Met SO many new people, i
was "amazed" that volunteers that came to help out came as far as W.A., QLD, Bryon
Bay, Coffs Harbour, South coast, there was about 35/40 of us that stayed at the local
YHA across the road from the beach, AHH the smell of saltwater, the feel of the sea
breeze was amazing when i arrived about 6.30ish last night, Didn't take long to spot
people who are here for the event, as wearing the DSA tees! we chatted, b4 doing
our own tea (for me it was tea and photography of course lol) then a lot of us,
causally met up at the dinning room, chatting and also YHA has bingo night, i was the
sole winner from the group, (won 2 of 5 rounds!) and we had a meeting about todays
plan, more and more people gradually came,(we all went to our rooms about
10.45pm!) people in my room didn't behaviour (note- not from DSA!) i was still awake
at 2am- thou somehow must had "finally" gotten to asleep as woke naturally about
4.30am, alarm was set for 5am, so turn off and got up, i was 3rd person to arrive at
dining room for was meant to b'fast from 4.30am, YHA didn't open kitchen till 5am, by
5.50am we were at the area for today, while waiting for trailers to come, we checked
Rockpool area for bluebottles, lucky only one was found! and was "killed"!!, unpacking
of trailers, setting up tables, tent's, signs up, esky's filled out with food/drinks/ice etc
AND course "sunrise photography!! u have to see to believe was worth getting up for!!
bacon and eggs for those who were there for setup, felts bit "odd" a 2nd fast, but we
really needed it, and a drink! Garry who is the DSA Australia founder was "shocked"
when we was donated a "surf board" for the group! one of the surfers/vols/main
person took it out to see how it would go b4 "waxing it" i took some photos of the
serval "guy's filling in time surfing b4 everyone arrived-our free time lol, and the man
who "donated the board" loved my photo that i took and wants a copy for he's web!!!
(he makes surfboards/kayak's etc Ohh here was my "extra luggage"-the photo with
this message, now u just have to wait for the other moments of the day...the photos!
yep I'm in them! and was able to catch waves with the people taking part. Both Gary
and Shane (DSA Sydney branch) wants copies of the photo's id took! Can i go
anywhere where people don't like/want a copy? But thats ok as i enjoy taking them
and enjoy "using GOD's skill he has given me! along with doing days like today!!"
JANNE’S CORNER
It has been a short month but plenty happening, as usual. Irene and I have had quite
intense meetings with DNF, on 3/2/15 about Independent Advocacy, which is in limbo
at present as Government believes that this will no longer be needed with the NDIS.
This is certainly not true as people, especially Deafblind people will not only need it to
help access support, in many cases for the first time, but negotiating with other
services and community. Then I had a DNF phone conference on 23/2/15 to discuss
having an Expo at Stockton, Newcastle where organisations will meet residents and
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families to discuss how NDIS planning can be supported by these advocacy
organisations.
Our first Bunnings Sausage Sizzle for the year was held at Ashfield on Sunday 15 th
Feb. This was a great success, thanks to our volunteers Mick, Lucy, Andy, Jesse,
Janne and especially Jannetta, Nell and Robert our very able members. Jannetta
kept everyone in line and made a great money collector.
Once again we have got Deafblind Forum up and running, the first meeting was 18th
Feb. and this was attended by the new Able Australia representative for NSW
Bethany Evans, plus other Able employees Carla Anderson and Claire Tellefson from
Melbourne, as well from NSW, Steve Ripley VA, Justine Lorenz D.S. Newcastle,
Stephen Hallinan, Carleeta Manser, Mark Hoarau, Irene McMinn, Peter Risby, Janne
Bidenko, we also had two volunteers Matthew Cooper and Joe Uelese, which we
believe will be beneficial for them and us, hearing of the problems first hand. It was
also great to welcome Gail Box, Stephen Hallinan’s sister who also has Ushers ll, and
who is interested in becoming involved with DBA. The DBForum will become a
quarterly meeting as we have had previously. Participants were supported by 6
Interpreters.
After the DBForum Meeting, some of the participants, including our own SelfAdvocacy Group, Carleeta, Irene and Mark, met with Melbourne participants for an
Advocacy Meeting, which will be held monthly. The next meeting is 18th March 2015
at DBA Office VA. The following day, Irene, Stephen and Mark headed off to
Melbourne for the “Lets Connect” Meeting and Deafblind Camp.
On 26th February I attended a Training Day on Collaboration, at the Centre for
Volunteering. This was very timely after our collaboration with Able Australia, as it
was stressed at this training that we have moved into an era that must have
collaboration to survive. It was very informative and proposed a “ladder of
collaboration” and how to begin to advance up this ladder as we need to.
During this month I have been very busy restoring DBA Website, which had been lost
from VentraIP when they updated their system, not realising that it had not been
actually saved, when it came across from Vicnet, where it was before they lost their
funding at Victorian Library. My granddaughter and I had worked on this but it still
needed a Website Restoration to find the old website to restore the site. After much
searching, I found “Ambion”, a Sydney company we could afford, and they were
absolutely marvellous. It is now great to say that we have our website
www.dbansw.org up and running.
We have also had Telstra visiting our office and setting up digital equipment, phone
and modem etc, as the NBN has now reached Mitchell Street Enfield.
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BIRTHDAYS
Happy Birthday to all members having their birthday in March, I hope you have a
good year.
March
9 Nerida Wooldridge
14 Jesse Conolly
19 Robert Bennett
20 Sven Topp
23 Juanita Macleod
23 Sue Mcleod
MEDIA RELEASE: STRONG ADVOCACY KEY TO BREAKING DOWN
BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY – NCOSS 17 February
2015
Today’s commitment from NSW Labor to provide funding certainty for disability
advocacy groups in NSW and establish a new employment advocacy body and will
help ensure people with disability are given a strong voice in decisions that affect
them according to the Council of Social Service of NSW.
NCOSS CEO Tracy Howe said advocacy bodies were crucial to achieving much
needed progress around access to employment and more meaningful community
participation for people with disability.
“I congratulate Luke Foley and Linda Burney for their strong commitment to ensuring
the voices of people with disability continue to be heard into the future. “For too long
people with disability have experienced barriers to their full access and participation
in the community”.
“This month it was incredibly disappointing to see rates of employment for people with
disability fall below the rate they were at 20 years ago. “We can do better and a
strong advocacy body, led by former disability discrimination commissioner Graeme
Innes will be crucial to turn that trend around.”
Ms Howe said she will be looking to all candidates to recognise the important role that
independent advocacy, information and representation plays across a broad range of
issues affecting people with disability.
“Independent advocacy, information and representation services in NSW give people
with disability a voice in the broad range of decisions that affect them; they are
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independent from disability service providers and free of conflicts of interest. But
funding for many of these organisations is uncertain.
“With the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme it is unclear where
funding for these services would come from into the future.
“Funding for these services runs out 30 June 2016. Before the election NCOSS urges
all candidates to ensure the voices of people with disability continue to be heard,
through a commitment to ongoing funding for these services.”
Ms Howe said people with disability continue to remain some of the most
marginalised in our community.
“Independent advocacy, information and representation services in NSW allow
people with disability to understand their options, exercise their rights and participate
in the community. Without these services I am afraid we will see the marginalisation
of people with disability increase even further.”
Media Contact: Laura Maclean, 0412 867 658
AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE – Irene McMinn & Mark Hoarau
Irene McMinn wrote to the Hon. John Ajaka, Minister for Disabilities to ask for an
appointment to talk about deafblindness, by the Self-Advocacy Group. Because of
the elections and his commitments, we only got to meet with his Advisor Chelsea on
4/3/15. Unfortunately Carleeta was not able to join us at this meeting, although it was
the 3 of us belong to this group, as she was not able to get an interpreter at short
notice.
However, Chelsea the Advisor was very receptive to the advocacy we were raising.
She listened avidly and took notes, to the issues we put forward, about
guide/interpreters and the availability of these overseas and the need for them here
especially with the coming NDIS, we also talked about the education of Deafblind
Children and the necessity of Braille for literacy and further education. We also
brought up the ongoing necessity for advocacy and for communication skills
especially within group homes.
We talked about TAFE and the fact that with the NDIS support, that will be available
for all Deafblind people, without trained support workers ready to fulfil this role
Deafblind people will be left in limbo. This is an urgent matter and Chelsea was going
to contact ADHC to raise these concerns further as well as discussing with Minister
Ajaka.
We congratulated ourselves with a cup of coffee, bought for us by Mark.
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LETS CONNECT MEETING 20TH FEBRUARY 2015 – Irene McMinn
On Thursday 10th February I headed down to Melbourne to attend the Lets Connect
meeting and Deafblind camp.
I went to the airport with Henry one of my Taxi drivers when we arrived at the airport
he found a security officer to take me to the Virgin counter where I registered and the
lady took me up to the gate to wait for the plane.
When I arrived in Melbourne Justin who works for Able Australia met me at the gate
and we met up with Stephen Hallinan who had arrived about an hour before me.
Justin then drove us in to Melbourne to the Hotel where we met up with Meredith and
Carla. Meredith took me to my room and said she would come back in half an hour to
pick me up to go to dinner.
We went to a very nice Restaurant and met with everyone who had come for the
meeting we enjoyed a very nice dinner and chatted to different people. I was sitting
next to Dennis the interpreter so I was able to talk with Eddie from Perth and his wife.
Eddie has Ushers Syndrome so he signs.
In the morning we left the hotel in Taxis to go to Ross House where the meeting was
being held. They had a problem setting up the portable loops so it took a little while
to get ready. Rikki Chapman from BCA joined us for the meeting and gave a report
on what is happening with BCA since they lost their Federal Funding. BCA is still
running and they are looking for more funding.
There were State Reports from Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, South Australia and
Western Australia. Steve Hardy, from Queensland, was unable to attend but had sent
his report by email, there is a lot happening around Australia.
The Victorian Advocacy group gave a report on the work they are doing with Taxis to
make them more accessible to Deafblind people they intend to make this Australia
wide. I gave a report on our DVD we made and said this was now available for sale
$10 a copy. Meredith said they would like a copy and hope to set up a library of
DVD’s on Deafblindness made in Australia.
After Morning Tea, David Murray and Michelle Stevens gave a report on ADBC which
is the national organisation for Deafblind people.
Then there was a discussion about the future of Lets Connect and the need for future
funding. Meredith told us that if we want to go to meetings like Lets Connect it is
important to put this into our NDIS funding package when it comes out.
After lunch we went down to Flinders Street Station to wait for the bus to take us to
camp.
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DEAFBLIND CAMP AT PHILIP ISLAND - by Mark Hoarau
I left Sydney by plane, at 9.45 and arrived in Melbourne around about 11.30. on
Friday morning I met up with 3 other DB people at the airport, they were also going to
the camp. When we arrived we were met by an assistant from Able Australia. He
took us to a coach which was already full of campers and volunteers; we drove for a
while and sandwiches and fruit were handed out so we wouldn't feel hungry by the
time we reached the camp. We stopped at Flinders St. train station and picked up
more people; it took about 11/2; hrs to reach the camp. When we reached the camp,
we were shown to our accommodation, which were hotel styled rooms taking 3
people, with an ensuite bathroom as well.
After dinner that night, there were some bonding games where we had to find a
buddy and talk to him/her all that night. I was tired from travelling that day and went
to bed early. The next morning after breakfast there were activities such as flying fox
and giant swing, abseiling, caving, archery, indoor rock climbing, kayaking in open
water and on the lake, craft and technology lessons; I chose technology lessons,
using an iphone with a braille display; using a pearl scanner with braillenote; and
being given a lesson on audio description and communication equipment. After
lunch, I went to Ryll bush tucker farm for an interesting cultural tour about bush foods
and their uses. After dinner, everybody got dressed up for the big 60's disco bash. It
was quite a fun night but it was a bit hard to communicate with anybody but a good
time was had by all. After breakfast the next morning, activities were again put up,
which included swimming at the beach, tandem bike riding, or a walk to the nearby
town of Cowes. I chose the walk to Cowes; we were driven there in the bus and then
walked around the small but charming town which consisted of several antique shops
an art gallery and other types of shops. We stopped and had coffee, then looked in 3
or 4 antique shops but then it was time to go back to the camp for lunch and packing
up which I hate immensely. I came home tired but on the whole it was mighty good
and I will return for another one in the future.
HOH OUTING FOR MARCH – 28th March 2015
DBA has decided to take advantage of the following experience as I doubt whether
any deafblind person, or possibly volunteer, has had this opportunity before. We will
need a good volunteer turn up, to support people. There is also a Café at Bilpin Fruit
Bowl where we will have lunch of lovely fresh food.
For bus pickups please phone Janne 0432 570 210 or email janneb@iinet.net.au
Date: 28th March
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Venue: See details below
Time: We will aim to be at Bilpin at 11AM, this will take approximately
1 ½ hours from Strathfield.
Cost: $30 for lunch plus extra to buy produce picked if wished.
Please allow extra money for people who like their coffee, volunteers have been
paying for these.
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES AT BILPIN FRUIT BOWL
Pick your own will be open throughout March from 10am to 4pm each Saturday and
Sunday. Bookings are not necessary, you can just turn up for picking.
This weekend we will have Royal Gala Apples, Red Delicious Apples, Fuji Apples,
chinese cabbage, green kale, purple kale, purple eggplants, white eggplants,
tomatoes, capsicum, banana chillies, bullhorn chillies, green chillies, turnips,
watermelon radishes, Lebanese zucchini, basil, corn, continental parsley, Lebanese
cucumbers, apple cucumbers, savoy cabbage, broccoli, carrots, silverbeet and
shallots.
We have a range of apples that are chemical free and all our veggies are chemical
free. When you come to the farm, if you want to pick the chemical free apples, please
let us know that you want these and we will show you where they are.
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